Marijuana is the slang term for portions of the cannabis plant. It is one of the oldest used psychoactive compounds and there is an ongoing scientific revolution in terms of marijuana benefits, with more potential benefits being added to the list every day. Cannabis was outlawed in 1937 against the advice of the American Medical Association and marijuana used declined as the use of aspirin and opioids rose. While many know how it feels to consume marijuana, most are unaware of the implications and how it actually works in the body. Marijuana has many effects on the human body, and it can be happily reported that the vast majority of these effects are overwhelmingly positive.
How it Operates
It is important to realize that what strain is taken and how the product is ingested will have a significant effect on what happens in the body. Marijuana that is inhaled will act quickly on the body while marijuana that is eaten with take longer to enter the bloodstream.
The main thing to consider is the ratio of CBD and THC, as their relationship will have the greatest effect. Sativa strains have more THC and have more of a cerebral effect, meaning they give euphoric feelings of happiness. Indica strains have more CBD and as such have more whole-body effects. They are ideal for relaxation and are best taken in the evening or after a workout for sleep and muscle relaxation. It is more likely to experience anxiety when smoking a high THC strain than an Indica strain. Despite all the theory what is actually happening under the hood is impossible to pinpoint with scientific theory and speculation, as the experience is always highly individual. The exact formula needed to trigger the same response in everyone is impossible to create, as it would imply that the human system is static and stays the same, which is not the case.
THC and the High
Though there are hundreds of compounds in marijuana, the main one to take note of is tetrahydrocannbinol – THC. THC is the psychoactive part of marijuana and most of the effects of being high are a result of the THC content, including an increased sense of taste, smell, sound and vision.
One way to gauge the strength of a strain of marijuana is by its THC content, with over 23% being considered a high THC content. THC generally ranges from 19% to 26% in marijuana buds. When THC is ingested the high comes from THC binding to regions in the brain that are associated with pleasure. This stimulates a chemical cascade in the brain which results in the release of dopamine, also known as the “feel good chemical”. This is a very simple definition in terms of the marijuana high, however everyone will experience marijuana subjectively depending on a number of variables. Many things can affect the high, including who you are with, how you felt beforehand and the general mood and setting in the local environment.
The Endocannabinoid System
Marijuana plants produce compounds that are known as cannabinoids. The two most prominent cannabinoids are CBD and THC. CBD acts the opposite of THC in many ways. CBD is a natural mood lifer, without any of the associated side effects of getting high. It is not psychoactive, like THC. What is interesting is that the two compounds work in tandem. They work synergistically, and some research suggests the best ration may well be 1:1.
When we feel pain or stressed out, the brain releases endocannabinoids to take away those feelings. These endocannabinoids go to the endocannabinoid system to balance out the unwanted sensations. The reason THC works as well as it does is because is acts as an endocannabinoid in the human body. The endocannabinoid system(ECS) is a system of cell receptors in the human body. THC is almost identical to human endocannabinoids, which slot into these receptors. Because the ECS is responsible for pain, pleasure, appetite, sleep, cognitive processing, emotional wellbeing, mood, temperature and focus, THC stimulates each of these physiological processes to varying degrees. Endocannabinoids can be compared to the body’s own natural THC. Irregularities in the ECS are associated with a wide range of conditions, which is the main reason why marijuana is so effective at treating so many illnesses, including insomnia, depression, schizophrenia, glaucoma, arthritis, cancer, skin conditions, psoriasis and back problems. Along with THC, CBD plays an important role in the ECS. While THC acts directly on cell receptors, CBD increases the number of endocannabinoids in your system.
We Can’t say for Sure
We can’t say for certain what happens when marijuana is consumed. Though we do know that it is linked to the amount of CBD and THC there are many other compounds and an infinite number of variables that influence the experience you are going to have and the effect it will have on the body. All we know is that the endocannabinoid system plays a huge part and that THC is good for cerebral highs and CBD dominant strains are good for whole body relaxation. It can have practically any effect depending on the individual and the environment, as the ECS is connected to so many vital functions.
